Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2003;24:299
© 2003 Elsevier Science NL
Images in cardio-thoracic surgery |
Ruptured ascending aorta aneurysm presenting as pulmonary embolism
E.M. Choukrouna*,
C. Bragançab,
F.P. Madonnaa,
C. Devillea
a Service de Chirurgie Cardiaque et Vasculaire, Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut-Lévèque, 4, Ave de Magellan, 33604 Pessac Cedex, France
b SAMU 33, Hôpital Pellegrin, Place Amélie Raba Léon, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Received 27 January 2003;
received in revised form 11 April 2003;
accepted 11 April 2003.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +33-5-57656437; fax: +33-5-57656157
e-mail: emmanuel.choukroun{at}wanadoo.fr
Key Words: Ascending aorta • Aneurysm • Rupture
A 78-year-old man was admitted with thoracic pain and hemoptysis. Computed topography scan was performed showing an ascending aorta bleed tracking along pulmonary artery (Fig. 1
). Prior pericardial adhesion explained the impossibility of rupture in free pericardium and a bleed localized between aorta and right pulmonary artery causing its compression (Fig. 2
). Because of important pericardial adhesions and localization of the rupture (near the origin of supraaortic arteries), ascending aorta replacement was performed under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with good outcome.
